James Cameron's Avatar: Fire and Ash has ignited the Chinese mainland box office, earning over 200 million yuan ($28.4 million) within two days of its December 19 release. Industry analysts project total earnings could surpass 1 billion yuan, cementing the film's status as a holiday season blockbuster.
The third Avatar installment debuted simultaneously in the Chinese mainland and North America, reflecting the region's critical role in global box office performance. This follows the success of Zootopia 2, which earned 3.6 billion yuan in the Chinese mainland this year—its largest single-market total worldwide.
Why it matters: The coordinated release strategy highlights Hollywood's growing reliance on the Chinese mainland's 1.4 billion potential viewers. With the region contributing nearly 30% of global box office revenue in 2025, its influence continues to reshape international film distribution models.
